The KTM Group has promoted Matt Walker, pictured above left, to the position of Managing Director for both KTM Sportmotorcycle UK and Husqvarna Motorcycles UK with immediate effect.

Walker, 40, joined the UK subsidiary of the Austrian company as an Area Sales Manager in 2004 before progressing to become National Sales Manager and then General Manager in 2015. After leading the company to an increased market share in 2016, the appointment to Managing Director across both brands at the Silverstone Park-based offices means that Matt will be responsible for driving the parent company’s ambitious targets to grow the dealer network in the UK and Ireland.

Florian Kecht, Managing Director of KTM Sportmotorcycle GmbH, said: “These are exciting times for KTM and Husqvarna and the company has set very ambitious targets in its medium-term plan.

“The KTM Group trusts Matt’s understanding of the market which - coupled with his sales and marketing expertise and experience with our ever-evolving brands – means we are confident he is the right person to maximise our potential in the UK and Ireland. Having delivered impressive growth in the role of General Manager in 2016, we are expecting a very a bright future in what we consider one of the most important motorcycling regions.”

Matt Walker commented: “Naturally I’m very excited to be leading the task in taking KTM and Husqvarna in the UK and Ireland to the next level. The KTM Group has rapidly expanded since I joined 13 years ago and more so in the past five years. These are arguably the two most exciting brands in motorcycling and already offer a diverse and original model range, but this will only increase over the coming the years.”

One of Matt’s first jobs as MD was to appoint Simon Roots. pictured above right, as the new Marketing, Events and Motorsport Manager for KTM Sportmotorcycle UK. Beginning in January, Roots, 43, was previously the editor of Fast Bikes magazine, which he joined in 2009 after leaving SuperBike magazine. With a background in CRM coupled with his vast experience working in media, Roots will be tasked in making sure the many messages and activities of KTM are relayed to the widest possible audience.

Simon Roots said: “There is no more dynamic brand in the market than KTM, and the opportunity to make an impact here is one that I am relishing. KTM’s growth projections are hugely ambitious, but with a product range as exciting as that found in the KTM dealer network the opportunities to influence are near limitless.”

KTM is enjoying success as Europe’s largest motorcycle manufacturer and in 2016 enjoyed its sixth successive year of growth in terms of motorcycles produced and sold, as well as company turnover. The Austrian company started 2017 in winning style with its sixteenth consecutive Dakar win with Britain’s Sam Sunderland and will also enter MotoGP full time in 2017.